VUWSA Statement – Humanitarian Crisis in Iran

VUWSA Statement – Humanitarian Crisis in Iran 

The Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association expresses our sympathy for and stands in solidarity with the people of Iran and members of our university community who have been affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.  

Since January 2026, in just two days of nationwide protests, the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out a brutal massacre against civilians expressing their grievances. During this period, the government completely shut down the internet, cutting off all information and preventing the world from seeing the scale of this violence.  

According to multiple reports, as many as 36,500 people have been killed, including at least 144 children as confirmed by UNICEF. Eyewitnesses report piles of bodies, streets covered in blood, and entire communities living in fear and grief.   

Civilians continue to face arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, and immediate threat of execution. Women and girls are disproportionately targeted, experiencing systemic discrimination, coercion, and violent repression with families and communities left traumatized, struggling to survive under constant fear and uncertainty.  

We are sickened by these credible reports and VUWSA wants to make it clear to any student affected by this ongoing crisis that we stand with you. We support the Iranian people’s fundamental right to protest, their freedoms of speech and association, and critically, their right to self-determination. 

As part of the Victoria University academic community, we believe it is important to call attention to these horrors and to remain informed through credible and responsible sources. Awareness and understanding are essential first steps toward preventing indifference to human suffering.  

VUWSA encourages members of the university community to pursue safe and constructive forms of humanitarian action, such as supporting reputable humanitarian organizations, participating in educational discussions, or sharing messages of solidarity with those affected. We also call on our government to renew their commitment to disengage from the authorities responsible for these violations, and to prioritize the protection and rights of Iranian civilians.  

To our students, know that you are not alone. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or other support services at the University at any point. 

Te Herenga Waka students can access our advocacy services, or the University’s student support services. For free, confidential support for 12-24 year olds, contact Youthline or 1737.

VUWSA voices their concerns on the placement of the 2026 General Election

VUWSA Statement on Election Date 2026  

VUWSA – Te Aka Tauira voices their concerns on the placement of the 2026 General Election. 

Today, January 21 2026, the New Zealand Government set the date of the 2026 General Election to Saturday November 7 2026, ensuring potential student voters already have a challenge to overcome when it comes to casting their vote this year. 

This date coincides with the end date of most exam periods at universities across Aotearoa (with six university exam periods ending within the 6-7 November window), alongside university hall move-out dates, and in turn, the yearly exodus of students across the country as they return to their hometowns for the summer holidays.  

As such, this will impede student voter turnout across the motu. 

Logistical issues – such as knowledge of the correct location to enroll at (home, flatting or hall addresses) - alongside the placement of the advance voting and voting period directly across the exam timetable will ensure a minimized student vote. 

“Combined with the changes to the enrolment deadlines, this Election date will cause the direct stifling of student voices,” VUWSA President Aidan Donoghue notes, “We are concerned by the challenges to democratic participation this date incurs, as our main driver this year is to ensure all views of the student electorate are represented in the 55th Parliament of New Zealand.”  

In response, VUWSA calls to all organisations that promote civic participation to join us in launching the largest enrolment drive this country has seen, and stresses if they want to collaborate to reach out immediately. 

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Emma Maguire at media@vuwsa.org.nz  

VUWSA Statement - $128 Million - 27/06/2023

We welcome the Government’s announcement of $128 million towards universities and review of the university funding model. Thank you, Minister Tinetti and Minister Robertson, for listening to the voices of students, staff and our Vice Chancellor, and for acknowledging that we need a more sustainable funding model.  

In response to this governmental support, we call for a moratorium on the current redundancies plan here at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington and other universities across the motu. We need time to pause, carefully reconsider and plan so that short-term decisions do not result in long-term consequences. We said it prior to today’s announcement, and we will continue to say it: Our people – educators, researchers, and support staff - are our best asset. They are essential to the lives and futures of students. 

This has been a collective campaign effort. Thank you to the VUW-TEU for their leadership and everyone who backed the #savingtertiary campaign in the last few weeks, with vocal support from across the world, including members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, former politicians, prominent members of the arts community, academics, students, staff, and ordinary New Zealanders.  

We started this campaign believing this could be a turning point in the history of tertiary education in Aotearoa. Less competition and more collaboration across universities, sustainable funding mechanisms and universities that are treated as a public good rather than businesses are an entirely possible future. This tertiary education review proves that to be true. We need the redundancy plans to be halted so we can engage in this process with our sector intact. We look forward to robust engagement during the review. 

This is only the beginning of a campaign to reform tertiary education to be a public good. We will stay persistent in the fight to save VUW and tertiary education.

VUWSA Statement 22/3/2023

VUWSA Statement 22/3/2023

VUWSA stands in solidarity with trans and gender diverse communities in opposing the anti-trans demonstrations led by Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull scheduled to take place in Wellington this coming weekend.

Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull has a history of bigotry against the trans and gender diverse community, with her protests overseas attracting alt-right and Neo Nazi participants.

VUWSA is committed to making Wellington a safe space for all and believe that Kellie-Jay represents dangerous and hateful ideals that are not welcome in Aotearoa. We support free speech, but not hate speech.

VUWSA also stands in support with the Queer Endurance / Defiance counter-protest to be held on the 26th of March.

If any students need support during these protests or require assistance, please email our Advocacy team at advocate@vuwsa.org.nz or free text/call 1737 for support from trained counsellors.

Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association - Te Aka Tauira

30 September 2022

After months of hard work, last night at the Ngāi Tauira AGM, a resolution was passed to formally gift VUWSA a new Te Reo Māori Name – Te Aka Tauira.

The tikanga of ‘Te Aka Tauira’ represents VUWSA as the strong vine which binds tauira with the different facets of student life and the student experience at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. ‘Aka’ refers to the parent vine that Tāwhaki used to climb up to the heavens.

In partnership with Ngāi Tauira, this name was developed and proposed by our tauira Māori through a series of wānanga, workshops and consultation with the Ngāi Tauira membership.

To recognise the gifting of this taonga, the VUWSA President exchanged taonga, on behalf of the Association, with the Ngāi Tauira Tumuaki takirua, the Komiti Whakahaere, and tauira Māori. While VUWSA has more to do to properly uphold Te Tiriti and work in genuine partnership with Ngāi Tauira and tauira Māori, the exchanging of this taonga strengthens our partnership and further embed accountability. With the gifting of a new name comes the responsibility of understanding, upholding and respecting the mana and tikanga which surrounds it - and it will be on VUWSA, with the authority of the Tumuaki Tuarua, to ensure this is done, today and in the future. 

VUWSA will now begin the process to transition to the use of Te Aka Tauira and official launch will take place during O-Week 2023.

Nga mihi nui Ngāi Tauira and tauira Māori. Kia kaha Te Aka Tauira.

VUWSA Statement on Budget 2022 - 19 May 2022

Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) would like to state that the 2022 Budget has continued to condemn our national student body to poverty and debt by maintaining the status quo.

Extending half-price public transport for two months past June fails to address the systematic underlying issues that have caused the current cost of living crisis. While we do acknowledge the permanent half-price discount on public transport for Community Service Card holders will positively affect students, this is only a step in the right direction and does not go far enough. VUWSA reiterates that making public transport free is the only actual solution to end transport poverty that students and lower income earners experience.

Similarly, the $350 payment for those earning less than $70,000 will provide a benefit, albeit short, to students and is the first time in a long time that people on moderate incomes will receive payment from the Government. However, it is unclear if it excludes those who are receiving student allowance as this payment is excluded for those receiving other benefits. Clarity must be provided around the eligibility for this payment and which students are able to access it. Regardless, it is a band-aid solution that does not truly address the issues that have contributed to the rise in living costs. 

Tangible improvements to Studylink support are necessary to counter the cost of living crisis. In the past, VUWSA, alongside other national Student Unions, have called upon the Government to create a universal basic income, available to all those who study; alongside mitigations for issues with housing quantity and quality - problems that disproportionately impact students. Within Budget 2022 there is also no additional support for the tertiary sector, one of the industries hit hardest by COVID-19. 

The above issues are visibly missing from Budget 2022, and we implore the Government to put students closer to the forefront of their thinking when considering budget and policy in the future.